The cover reads "The First Christmas" in white letters over a deep purple night sky, with Joseph in a green headcloth, Mary in a blue veil and the baby in her arms under a scatter of stars. A baby settled in a lap can study those faces and the stars one by one, and a grown-up gets to say the title aloud for the first time all season.

For a new baby, this makes a gift that starts a Christmas story early, before anyone can read it for themselves. Ganz makes it as a soft fabric book that measures 6 inches, a size that fits a small pair of hands.

• Soft fabric book with a plush-textured cover
• 6 inches
• Cover title: The First Christmas
• Cover picture of Joseph, Mary and the baby under stars